A Throw-Away Cabinet Re-do

So I'm out hitting the garage sales a few weeks ago and I'm seeing a lot of big items in everyone's garbage.  I quickly figure out that it must be that city's annual big-item collection day. I start looking a little closer at everyone's garbage as I slowly drive past each house (I know, I have no shame!) Suddenly, I spot this beauty:

Okay, so she's got a few blemishes (who doesn't?!), like water damaged sides:

Other than that, she's solid.  Look at the carved drawer fronts and those lovely dove-tail joints:

I even love the cute pulls of the drawers:

I knew she was the cabinet I'd been looking for to work as a TV stand in our basement when it is finished. I started her makeover by ripping off the water-warped side panels and cutting some leftover beadboard that I already had:

I used some liquid nails to stick the new panels on and used some duct tape to hold it in place while it dried.

In the meantime, I removed all the hardware and bought some new lower knobs.  I stuck them all in an old piece of styrofoam and sprayed them all black.

And then luck of lucks, I found the perfect quart of mis-tint paint at Home Depot for $3! I did 3 coats and here she is after her makeover:

I may antique it a bit, but I'm waiting until I get her down into the basement to decide which look will be best. Until she gets down there, she's found a temporary home on the landing upstairs:

I love her! It was a perfect fit for my budget too. All it cost me was $3 in paint, about $6 in knobs and a little lack of self-respect to pull it out of someone's trash! I found another beauty in another home's garbage that I'm saving for my daughter's room in the basement (nothing is too good for my own flesh-and-blood!) haha. That'll be in a future post...

On a Funny Note:

Have you seen this gal's website? It is called Catalog Living and it is hilarious! Maybe the guys won't get it, but all you decorators will love it. She finds pictures from real catalogs and makes humorous and sarcastic captions poking fun at their displays and arrangements. Like these:

Climate control…

Elaine wasn’t about to let some hot flashes get

in the way of balancing the checkbook with the abacus.

and

A twist of something…

Elaine was not amused by Gary’s passive-aggressive

response to her request to “garnish the cocktails.”

Go check out her website and enjoy!

This Week I'm linking up to:
DIY Showoff
metamorphosis monday
whatever goes Wed.
Tea Rose Home
Penny-Pinching party
Thrifty Decor Chick
Furniture Feature Friday
Frugal Friday
Frugalicious Friday
Sat. Nite Special